TVO recently announced the launch of a number of new and innovative connected TV apps for Boxee and Yahoo! TV that bring the Internet to the traditional TV screen. TVO is already available as in the AppleTV via iTunes so this extends the network's reach even more. This brings TVO to a wider internet audience through SmartTV and set-top boxes. Hit jump to read the details.
TVO on Boxee
Boxee is the newly released set top box which allows the user to connect their TV to the internet. TVO has released three Boxee Apps, including:
- Gisèle's Big Backyard for ages 2-5,
- The Space for ages 6-11, and
- TVO.org video content including Allan Gregg In Conversation, Big Ideas, Think Again and The Agenda with Steve Paikin.
In addition to the three new apps, the Boxee TV Show Library also features episodes of The Agenda with Steve Paikin.
TVO on Yahoo! TV
The Yahoo! TV widget engine is built into several new TVs at the point of manufacturing and allows for web content to be viewed on the TV screen. Yahoo! TV now features three TVO widgets, including:
- Gisèle's Big Backyard for ages 2-5,
- The Space for ages 6-11, and
- TVO.org video content including Allan Gregg In Conversation, Big Ideas, Think Again and The Agenda with Steve Paikin.
Based on the Ontario school curriculum, all TVOKids content, including Gisèle's Big Backyard and The Space, is teacher tested and developed in conjunction with TVO's in-house educational specialist.
"The TV represents the last screen in our homes to be connected to the Internet," said Bob Tarle, Innovation Program Manager for TVO. "We've been working hard to bridge the Internet to TV screens and we're pleased to be able to offer a connected TV experience with the trusted content that TVO is known for."
"We're very excited to now have a significant presence on connected TV," said CEO Lisa de Wilde. "Providing TVO content through Boxee and Yahoo! TV is part of TVO's ongoing commitment to digital innovation and allows us to reach new audiences in new ways."
These advancements come out of the "IdeaShaker" digital innovation lab, which is TVO's incubator for new talent, ideas and products. Students from Sheridan College's Interactive Multimedia post-graduate program have worked alongside TVO staff on both connected TV projects from conception to launch.
Based on this success, TVO is excited to partner with Sheridan's post-graduate program to nurture and develop new talent who will contribute to cutting-edge technology advances in public educational media. As part of the partnership, students gain employment experience through TVO and help develop new media applications from the ground up.
"TVO is providing an innovation-focused environment for students to fine tune their new media skills - ones they'll use long after they graduate," said Dan Zen, Coordinator of Sheridan College's Interactive Multimedia Graduate Certificate Program.
About TVO
TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. Celebrating 40 years, TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.